ARCH TOUR FEST: (W)rapper

Photo Credit: Tom Bonner Photography

Arch Tour Fest: (W)rapper – 10:30am

Additional information regarding the tour and check-in process will be emailed directly to registrants 24 hours before the event.

Tour Organizer: Eric Owen Moss Architects

Eric Owen Moss Architects recently completed construction of (W)rapper, a new 235-feet tall office building and the latest EOMA contribution to an on-going 35-year revitalization plan for a former industrial and manufacturing zone in Central Los Angeles and Culver City, California. The client is Samitaur Constructs; partners are Frederick and Laurie Samitaur Smith. Located along the Expo Line light rail connecting West Los Angeles with Downtown, the project conforms to the City’s long term planning goal to increase density along mass transit routes, in this case, in a neighborhood that historically limited heights to 45 feet. At 235 feet in height (W)rapper implements a new scale, density and multi-purposes for the area. (W)rapper’s structural concept originated in 1998 and was first presented in an exhibit at the Wexner Center in Columbus, Ohio. Unlike conventional high-rise structural systems based on columns organized along modular grid lines, (W)rapper is supported by a network of curvilinear bands originating from a number of geometric center points. Each curving band is wrapped around the largely rectilinear building envelope, and folded around each vertical and horizontal corner of the building until it reaches the ground. The bands are supported on a base isolated foundation which separates the tower structure above from the isolator foundations below, allowing the building to respond and move safely and securely in any seismic event.

Panel Discussion: Eric Owen Moss, FAIA and Frances Anderton, AIA

After the physical tour, there will be a brief discussion of the project with the (W)rapper Tour Guides, Eric Owen Moss, FAIA and media personality Frances Anderton, AIA.  We expect a very lively discussion!

Building Credits:

Owner: Laurie Samitaur Smith, Samitaur Constructs

Architect: Eric Owen Moss Architects

Architect Project Team: Eric Owen Moss, Dolan Daggett, Vanessa Jauregui, Maxime Lefebvre, Hugo Ventura, Raul Garcia, Eric McNevin, Juan Villarreal, Scott Nakao, Diana Rodriguez, Emmanuel Osorno, Renata Galan, Brennen Huller, Sean Briski, Nicholas Barger, Zarmine Nigohos, Tanveer Sami, Richard Yoo, Christine Lawson, Francisco Delgado

General Contractor: Matt Construction

Construction Management/Owners Representative: Stegeman & Kastner, Inc.

Structural Engineer: Arup, Los Angeles

Geotechnical Engineer: WSP

MEP Engineer (Design Development): Arup, Los Angeles

Civil Engineer:  Arup, Los Angeles

Smoke Control: Arup, Los Angeles

Landscape Architect: Land Images

Commissioning: Green Dinosaur

Shoring Engineer: Earth Support Systems, Inc

Surveyor: J.O. Nelson & Associates

Technology: Vantage

Acoustics: Arup, Los Angeles and Antonio Acoustics

Traffic: KOA Corporation

Hardware: Jon Wiseman

Tour Led by:

Dolan Daggett, AIA

Eric McNevin, AIA

Learning Objectives:

Building as City Making

Building for Resilience

Building a Creative-Office High-Rise

Building Using Performance-based (vs. Prescriptive) Systems

Parking Info:

Visitors to the (W)rapper are encouraged to come via transit using MTA’s Exposition Light Rail Line (E Line).  The project is located 750ft west of the La Cienega Jefferson aerial station.  If coming by car or rideshare, please use the adjacent building address @ 5792 W. Jefferson Boulevard and park/dropoff where directed.  The project is located less than 300ft to the North.  The tour will begin on the ground floor.